Offshore drilling and the search for oil
Drilling a well is still an educated guess. About 1 in 10 wells are successful
on average. This ratio hasn't changed over time. The question is, how do they find these 1 in 10 oil pockets? Geologists are the ones responsible for finding oil.
There are three different Methods they can use to find it.
The first method they can use is sensitive gravity meters to measure tiny changes in the earths gravitational field, this indicating flowing oil.
The second method is that they can use electronic noses called "Sniffers" that are sensitive to the smell of hydrocarbons.
Finally, the most common method is the they use Seismology. This is the method of creating shock waves that pass through hidden rock layers. This interpreting the waves that are reflected back to the surface. This will show where the oil is.
To know even more, click on the link below:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/offshore-drilling.htm
on average. This ratio hasn't changed over time. The question is, how do they find these 1 in 10 oil pockets? Geologists are the ones responsible for finding oil.
There are three different Methods they can use to find it.
The first method they can use is sensitive gravity meters to measure tiny changes in the earths gravitational field, this indicating flowing oil.
The second method is that they can use electronic noses called "Sniffers" that are sensitive to the smell of hydrocarbons.
Finally, the most common method is the they use Seismology. This is the method of creating shock waves that pass through hidden rock layers. This interpreting the waves that are reflected back to the surface. This will show where the oil is.
To know even more, click on the link below:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/offshore-drilling.htm